Chapter Eighteen: A Human Being
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Prompto couldn't remember the exact point when he'd begun hoping that Noctis would come to save him. Save him for real this time: he knew now that what he'd seen before had been a fake.
Ardyn had knocked him out after he'd shot the pretend Noctis. Once unconscious he'd been moved away form the Magitek Crystal. It's affects had eventually worn off, and when they had he'd cried in relief as he realised that the figure he'd shot hadn't been the real Noctis.
When Prompto had shot at the illusion, the body of a Magitek Trooper had fallen to the floor, not the Prince. He could remember that sight now that his mind wasn't covered by the red haze. Could remember enough to know that he hadn't killed his only chance of rescue. His only friend.
He knew it was incredibly foolish to hope for Noctis, Ignis and even Gladio to come running in, to save him from this hell. Why would they help him? He was sure to them he was still just a Magitek Trooper, a 'mutt of the empire' as Gladiolus had so kindly put it. He was certain that they wanted nothing more to do with him.
Despite that, he couldn't help dreaming of the royal entourage rushing in through the elevator, saving him from this nightmare that would otherwise be endless. He'd tried to banish the thoughts from his mind at first, but they were persistent, failing to disappear and instead blooming into hopes and dreams. All he could do now was pray to the Astrals that they didn't end up shattered.
He'd been here a week now from what he could tell. Ardyn seemed to pop up randomly so he didn't really have a way to know, but it felt like a week. A long week of pain that he knew might never end.
He tried his best not to think about that, though. Imagining the worst case scenario was not going to get him out of here.
He hummed quietly to pass the time, to keep himself sane. His throat was dry and the humming that sometimes turned into quietly mumbled words caused a dull ache. He didn't care; he had to remind himself that there was a world outside of his own head. A place where he could be safe and happy with Noctis. Insomnia, that's what Noctis had told him. The crown city. He wanted to go there, to the place where Ardyn could never touch him again.
Prompto was soon snapped from his fantasies, forcing his head up as he heard the grinding of metal, warning him the elevator was descending. He felt the lurch of his stomach that the noise always brought, skin crawling with anticipation. He hated how scared a simple noise could make him, but he just couldn't hold the fear back. That noise always followed with pain in some form or another. He just wanted it to stop.
"Why hello my dearest 05 It's so lovely to see you again."
Prompto didn't respond, simply glowering. Ardyn was always so theatrical and he hated it. He hated everything about the man, really. The annoying waves of crimson hair, the irritating way he spoke, the way he could hold himself with such self righteousness despite the terrible things he did.
Prompto felt anger boiling in the pit of his stomach but didn't let the ugly monster rear it's head. If he lashed out, said the wrong thing, it would only result in more pain. He'd learnt that by now.
"Why, you're awfully quiet today. Finally behaving for me are you?"
Prompto slowly inhaled through his nose to keep himself quiet, and it seemed to pay off. Ardyn's lips curled into a pleased smile. Prompto couldn't repress a shudder as the man reached out and carded large fingers through his hair, giving a slight tug at the mess of blonde locks before he pulled away.
"Such a good boy.. I think you deserve a reward, hm?"
Prompto felt a flutter of hope in him at the words but he quickly squashed it, reminding himself that whatever reward the Chancellor had in mind couldn't be a good one. He looked up at the man through cautious red eyes, glowing ever so slightly in the dim room.
"Reward?" Prompto flinched as he heard his own voice. It was strained, likely due to all the screaming he'd done these past few days. Ardyn didn't seem to mind, though: in fact the man only smiled wider, nodding.
"Yes." Ardyn snapped his fingers, and Prompto bit his lip as he heard the wretched noise of the elevator moving, wondering who could be occupying it. Only Ardyn had come down here before. This was new. New was scary.
Prompto's breath hitched as a Magitek Trooper came into view. His eyes flicked up to Ardyn, as if he could find an explanation for the MT's presence on the man's face. He couldn't, and his eyes soon moved back to the Trooper.
"Whys that thing here?"
Ardyn tutted at the words, placing a hand on the Magitek Trooper's cold, metal shoulder. Magitek Troopers started as humans, or at least something close. Then they fused them with daemons, and sealed them inside the armour. What was once a human body became gooey, squishy, to the point it was almost liquid. It bonded to the armour, becoming one with the metal. Part machine, part daemon. Prompto resolutely refused to believe there was any human left.
But those faces.. even hidden behind masks, the faces remained unchanged. The head didn't liquify, it stayed. To hold the brain in place, Prompto presumed. He remembered an experiment he'd witnessed: they'd strapped an MT down to a table and cut the metal faceplate open to see what they'd find. The thing had burnt under the bright lights of the surgical theatre, but the death hadn't been quick. It had been slow, long enough that Prompto had seen its face.
His face. They all had his face.
Just thinking about it was enough to make him feel nauseous and he had to try his best not to throw up, staring at the Trooper, a mixture of disgust and pity on his face.
"Now now, that isn't the kind of look you should give your brother. You might hurt its feelings."
Prompto reeled at the teasing words. He glared up at Ardyn, trying not to look at the MT. It was just standing there, completely unmoving. It was more than a little unsettling, especially when Prompto knew first hand what was under that armour.
"He- it's not my brother." He muttered, flinching as Ardyn's laughter echoed off of the walls. It was a horrible sound, not genuine in the slightest. In his opinion that laugh even held a little of Ardyn's deep, unexplainable hatred for the world. Prompto could never quite understand it. Ardyn's laughter sounded bitter, tired and completely insane. The sound was always enough to send chills up his spine.
"Of course it's your brother! You were both made by Verstael, after all. What a heartless thing to say."
Prompto just shook his head again, staring down at the floor now. It was better than looking at Ardyn or the Magitek Trooper. "No.. Doesn't matter who's DNA was used. I'm not a daemon, they are. That was the whole point, wasn't it? I'm different. Even if I'm a defect, failed experiment, that doesn't change. I'm human. I'm better than they are."
It was silent for a good few moments, and Prompto didn't dare look up. He knew he was way out of line, that his words would make Ardyn angry. He couldn't say he wasn't expecting it when a sudden burning pain burst through his cheek. He let out a cry as the sound of a bone cracking rang through the room. Well, there went his cheekbone.
"No more talking for you" All Prompto could do was listen, knowing talking would hurt like this. He was blinking furiously, trying to fight the heat of tears in his eyes as Ardyn spoke. "My dear boy, I think you're a little confused about all of this. So let me set things right."
Prompto hissed in pain as Ardyn took his chin in hand, lifting it so he had no choice but to look up into golden eyes. The man was surprisingly gentle in his hold but the movement still jostled his snapped cheekbone, and he felt a few tears rolling down his face and splashing to the floor. "Yes, you're different. But if you think you're above the rest then you're very much mistaken."
Ardyn let go of his chin and Prompto found his gaze settling on the floor again. He didn't have the strength to keep his head up, even with Ardyn present. "You entertained me for a while, yes. But then you grew disobedient, boring, and I sent you off to die. Not one person in this world wants you alive, not even that fledgling Prince. You belong to the Empire, you're his enemy. He was going to kill you the first chance he got. Do you understand?"
Prompto could only manage the slightest nod of his head, fresh tears streaming down his face. Ardyn's words had cut deep, right into the shreds of self worth he'd built up during his time with Noctis. The Prince had given him something he'd never been allowed before in his life: self confidence. But Ardyn had torn it all away like it was nothing.
Deciding his job was done for now Ardyn stepped back, straightening up and readjusting his scarf. "Well, it looks as though you finally understand your place. I'll be seeing you tomorrow, 05. Not much longer now and I'll let you die."
After dropping that little bombshell Ardyn made his exit, the Magitek Trooper following after him. Prompto didn't know what was worse: the sick twisting in his gut at the prospect of dying, and at Ardyn's hands nonetheless, or the relief that washed over him as he realised this could all be over soon.
That thought sent a new wave of tears rolling down his cheeks, and he gave up trying to contain the shuddering sobs. There was no point, no point in any of this. He bit his lip harder, trying to force those thoughts away. He had to hold on, just for a little bit longer. He had to stay alive, and Noctis would come to rescue him eventually. He had to.
It was the only hope he had left.
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Notes: Usually I write on the train and bus on my way to and from school, but this chapter is so dark I didn't feel comfortable writing it in public. I'm on holiday in turkey right now, writing by the pool. Fun times. I'm thinking once this is over I'll write a new FFXV fic, and maybe a Haikyuu fic too? We'll see